08 Nov 2017

In an attempt to increase citizen participation, government has reviewed the Tourism Act of 1992 and the Tourism Regulations of 1996 to accommodate reservation of some licence categories for citizens.

This was said by President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama when delivering his 2017 State-of-the Nation Address, on November 6.

Reserved activities, President Khama said included; guesthouses, bed and breakfast, mobile safaris, motorboats, tourist transfers, camp and caravan sites and mekoro.

This, he said had led to an increase in the number of citizen operators from 290 in 2007 to 1015 in 2017, ‘with another 252 currently being joint ventures, while 245 operators are non-citizens.’

“The number of licensed operators is envisaged to grow at a rate of 11 per cent annually. Expansion and localisation is estimated to have generated some 60 000 jobs,” he said.

Tourism, President Khama said continued to show resilience, with the country experiencing an increase in tourist arrivals to around 2 million.

“This has been accompanied by increasing international recognition of Botswana as a premier tourist location as is reflected in such accolades and achievements as Lonely Planet’s designation of Botswana as its number 1 “must see” country in 2016 and New York Times listing of Botswana among its Top 5 destinations,” he added.

Other accolades and achievements, he said included; Gold Medal award for Best Innovative Marketing Campaign and Quality Standard for Race for Rhinos, by Best Initiative Directions, 1st Position in the Economist Mega-fauna Index and Positive response to Botswana Tourism’s increased sponsorship of premier events from nine to 35 in the last five years.

The dams’ tourism initiative is progressing with Strategic Environmental Assessments for the proposed developments for Thune, Letsibogo and Shashe Dams at the final approval stage. It is expected that 889 jobs will be created through this initiative.

Further, President Khama said government continued to promote the country as a destination of excellence through enhanced marketing, including increased representation at international tourism trade shows.

In March 2017, President Khama said Botswana became the first sub-Saharan African country to partner with ITB Berlin, ‘the world’s premiere and largest tourism trade show, whose opening ceremony performed by 35 local youth reached a global audience.’

“This coming month Botswana will be hosting the UN World Tourism Organisation Conference on Sustainable Development, to be followed by the Giants Club Summit in March 2018,” he added.

Government, he said also remained committed to the diversification of tourism through support for events, such as; Khawa Dune Challenge and Cultural festival, The Makgadikgadi Epic, Race for Rhinos, Gaborone International Air Show, the World’s Strongest Man and the Toyota 1000 Kalahari Botswana Desert Race, among others.

“We also provide financial and operational assistance to 20 annual local events, which have steadily grown in terms of their turn out,” he said.

To further expand opportunities, he said government was also developing community monuments and heritage sites, adding that “to this end, access has so far been developed into 100 heritage sites around the country.” ENDS